1942 in radio

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The year 1942 saw a number of significant happenings in radio broadcasting history.

Events

• 1 January: All radio broadcasting in the Netherlands comes under full control of the country's Nazi occupiers. Publication of the only authorized programme guide, De Luistergids, begins.
• 9 January: Blue Network Company, Inc. was incorporated by RCA to hold the assets of the NBC Blue Network, in case NBC would lose their case against the FCC in court to maintain ownership of two networks.
• 29 January: Desert Island Discs first broadcast on the BBC Forces Programme from the U.K., presented by Roy Plomley. Vic Oliver is the first castaway. The programme will still be running more than 70 years later.
• 23 February: Fireside chat: On Progress of the War.
• 24 February: The Voice of America begins short-wave radio broadcasting using CBS and NBC transmitters. Its first programmes are in German.
• 27 February: James Stanley Hey, a British Army research officer, helps develop radio astronomy, when he discovers that the sun emits radio waves.
• 28 April: Fireside chat: On Our National Economic Policy.
• 26 July: Gene Autry takes his oath of office to join the United States Army during the broadcast of Gene Autry's Melody Ranch.
• 7 September: Fireside chat: On Inflation and Progress of the War.
• 12 October: Fireside chat: Report on the Home Front

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Debuts

• 24 January: Abie’s Irish Rose debuts on NBC.
• 3 February: Red Ryder debuts on NBC Blue West Coast.
• 1 March: KBON, Omaha, Nebrasaka, a Mutual affiliate, begins broadcasting on 1400 kHz with 250 W power (full-time).
• 4 March: Junior Miss (1942–1954) debuts on CBS.
• 22 March: The Better Half debuts on Mutual.
• 3 April: People Are Funny debuts on NBC.
• 5 April: The Army Hour debuts on NBC.
• 13 April: Are You a Genius? debuts on CBS.
• 6 May: The Radio Doctor (Charles Hill) makes his first BBC radio broadcast giving health care advice.
• 9 June: Cheers from the Camps debuts on CBS.
• 18 July: Chips Davis, Commando debuts on CBS.
• 30 July: Stage Door Canteen debuts on CBS.
• 3 August: An American in England debuts on CBS.
• 6 September: Mayor of the Town debuts on NBC.
• September: The Brains Trust first broadcast under this title on BBC Home Service radio.
• undated: WJLD, Bessemer, Alabama, begins broadcasting on 1400 kHz with 250 W power.
• 2 October: The Cisco Kid debuts on Mutual.
• 10 October: Campana Serenade debuts on NBC.
• 20 October: Songs by Sinatra debuts on CBS.
• 31 October: The Bob Hawk Show debuts on CBS.
• 9 November: Ceiling Unlimited debuts on CBS.

Closings

• 3 January: The Bishop and the Gargoyle ends its run on network radio (Blue Network).
• 3 April: Captain Flagg and Sergeant Quirt ends its run on network radio (NBC).
• 26 June: Arnold Grimm's Daughter ends its run on network radio (NBC).
• 23 August: Great Plays ends its run on network radio (Blue Network).
• 11 September: The Bartons ends its run on network radio (NBC).
• 22 September: Cheers from the Camps ends its run on network radio (CBS).
• 22 December: An American in England ends its run on network radio (CBS).

Births

• 7 August: Garrison Keillor, American public radio host of A Prairie Home Companion
• 20 September: Dan Davis, American radio personality on ESPN Radio.
• 11 December: Bud Ballou, American disc jockey and radio personality during the 1960s and 1970s.
• Bill Brown, New York City television and radio personality (WCBS-FM, WPLJ, WNEW)
• Larry Monroe, 29-year veteran with KUT in Austin, Texas.